R. David Paulison

Director           

Federal Emergency Management Agency

500 C Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20472

Mr. Paulison:

I was appalled to read that your agency is closing its long-term recovery office in New Orleans.  I would hope that this is not a sign of your agency’s lack of commitment to our recovery.  Whatever the case, closing the office is simply unacceptable.

Spokesman Aaron Walker says, in a New Orleans Times Picayune report posted online this evening, “FEMA cannot drive the planning – our mission is to support it.”  How then is closing the office supporting that mission? There has got to be a better solution to the obvious rift between the recovery office and staff and the City of New Orleans. Any disagreements can be resolved without such drastic measures.  Allow us to work with you without abandoning our recovery.  Our city needs the long-term recovery staff on the ground to support our plans, as they move forward.

Mayor C. Ray Nagin and his staff have assured me that they are prepared to work with your staff through the city planning process; however, FEMA must understand that our resources are limited – our tax base was decimated – so this recovery will truly be LONG-TERM.  I would hope that FEMA’s commitment to the recovery of this great American city would be long-term as well.

If there is anything I can do to assist you in your communications with the City, I am prepared to work with you.  Closing the office is not an acceptable solution and is not one that can be justified by stating your responsibilities under the Stafford Act.  As you and I are aware, the Stafford Act does provide for long-term recovery assistance and I expect your agency to uphold its statutory responsibility. 

Hurricane Katrina was an American tragedy and it would be a tragedy for our federal government to abandon our recovery efforts at this time. I look forward to your prompt response and thank you for your consideration of this matter. 

Sincerely,

William J. Jefferson

Member of Congress